Overview
The PGCE (without QTS) at Anglia Ruskin University will support you to develop into the best teacher you can. Through outstanding support from our experienced course team, alongside highly interactive and engaging face-to-face and online teaching, you’ll be given a wealth of opportunities to develop as a reflective and confident teacher ready for the twenty-first century.
Careers
Careers in primary and secondary education can be immensely rewarding, with wide-ranging opportunities. This course allows you to consider the direction of your own career, supporting you to set yourself professional goals and giving you the knowledge and skills to achieve them. In schools, you might work to establish yourself as a highly skilled classroom teacher before progressing to year-group or phase leadership, then to assistant and deputy headship, for example. Alternatively, you might develop expertise in teaching a curriculum subject area, or specialise in supporting children with Special Educational Needs or challenging more able learners. Our course helps you to frame your own professional pathway and consider further postgraduate study to support this; for example, you could continue to study towards a full Master’s degree utilising credit gained on this course, or even undertake a professional doctorate in education. The possibilities are endless!
Modules & assessment
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The Reflective Practitioner
Enhance your knowledge and skills within your teaching practice. Complementing your ITT or professional development as part of your career in teaching. Examine current theoretical perspectives related to the reflective practitioner discourse and make comparisons to the competences discourse in teaching as well as current national agendas within teacher education in England. You’ll critically reflect on your own teaching skills and examine the skills needed for successful reflection, then use this to identify areas for self-improvement. You’ll identify critical incidents in teaching children and their learning; considering how these influence pedagogical approaches. Appreciate how professional feedback through observations supports on-going development as a teacher as well as how to create appropriate learning resources to enhance children’s learning. You’ll be expected to draw on your own professional experiences to support your development of linking theory to practice and demonstrate how you have critically applied your knowledge and understanding to your professional role. -
Professional Evidenced-based Enquiry
Develop specialist expertise in an area of interest relating to teaching and learning. The notion of enquiry used is intended to reflect the contributions you bring to advanced study from your professional teaching. You’ll pursue individual enquiries into a subject area which is directly linked to professional teaching and learning experiences. The use of enquiry is based on a social constructivist approach to learning which reflects a belief that our thoughts about the world and our ways of knowing are developed through our shared perceptions of it. Central to this is the use of critical thinking which underpins reflexive learning. You’ll have the opportunity to engage in professional enquiry which will predominantly be work-based: the aim is to develop a deep understanding of factors which shape ways of thinking, working and learning in Primary/Secondary educational settings.
Assessment
We use several ways for you to demonstrate your learning from the modules, and to make sure you are developing the knowledge and skills to complete the course. These include completing a patch-work text (where you’ll reflect on and write shorter pieces about professional experiences over time), presentations, and an enquiry-based project linked to your own professional setting. We utilise both face-to-face and digital forms of assessment, and support you to use your work as evidence towards either your teacher training or CPD in schools.
Where you'll study
Your faculty
The Faculty of Health, Education, Medicine and Social Care is the largest in ARU, with over 7,000 students. Our Faculty is teeming with expertise and primed to meet the demand for creating health professionals, teachers, doctors, scientists and educators for the three districts we serve: Chelmsford, Cambridge and Peterborough.
We have been training undergraduates for professional roles for over 25 years, with a reputation for quality, dedication and ambition balanced with student satisfaction.
We know that to give our students the very best experiential learning, prior to getting into the workplace, simulation is second to none, for safe, realistic, learning environments. We have invested heavily in purpose built simulated wards, science labs and skills space, to support our students through their learning.
Where can I study?
Fees & funding
Course fees
Distance learning students starting 2020/21 (per year)
£2,100
How do I pay my fees?
UK students
You can pay your fees upfront, in full or in instalments – though you won't need to pay until you've accepted an offer to study with us.
How to pay your fees directlyFunding for postgraduate students
It’s important to decide how to fund your course before applying. Use our finance guide for postgraduate students to learn more about postgraduate loans and other funding options.
Entry requirements
Applicants to this course must:
- Hold an undergraduate degree or UK equivalent
- GCSE in English, Mathematics and a Science at grade 4 or above (or demonstrate qualifications at an equivalent level)
- IELTS score of 6 or higher
- Must demonstrate they regularly undertake teaching practice either as a full or part time employed serving teacher in a Primary or Secondary school or are undertaking Initial Teacher Training.
- Must be supported by their employer or ITT provider to use evidence from their practice on this course (e.g. observation feedback).
Whether you're studying entirely online or through a blend of face-to-face and online learning in September 2020, you'll need a computer and reliable internet access to successfully engage with your course. Before starting the course, we recommend that you check our technical requirements for online learning.
Due to the national lockdown all universities in England, including ARU, are only able to provide face to face teaching on campus for a limited number of courses. Visit our restrictions page for details.
Teaching options when not in a lockdown
In response to the COVID-19 global pandemic all our students can choose to either study face to face on campus or online only, and students are able to change their mode of delivery at given dates throughout the trimester.
For on campus teaching, we offer at least 4 hours face to face teaching related contact time per week for our undergraduate full time programmes supported by online learning using our established online learning systems. The number of contact hours vary course by course, and you can contact us for further information. The provision offered is subject to change due to the possibility of further Government restrictions, however the University remains committed to delivering face to face teaching and ensuring a COVID-19 secure environment.
In the event that there are further changes to the current restrictions that are in place within the UK due to the pandemic, we may need to move some courses online only at short notice to remain in line with Government guidelines and ensure the continued safety of our students and staff.
National Lockdown (from 5 January 2021)
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